Sunday, January 18, 2009

Poe's Last Picture on Stamp

The answer...their portraits have all been displayed on postage stamps designed and painted by artist Michael Deas.

Deas' latest effort is that of Edgar Allan Poe. The stamp was released Jan.16th and is his 21st.

According to the article by Tom Kazas, "The picture on which Deas modeled the portrait is called the "Thompson" daguerreotype, after an early owner of the picture, John R. Thompson. It was taken in September 1849 by Richmond photographer William A. Pratt."

Deas is quoted as saying, "You can tell it was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Pratt spotted Poe on the street and took him upstairs for a picture. In the photo, Poe is a little unkempt. His hair it tousled; his clothes are rumpled."

Kazas reports, "The Thompson daguerreotype is the last known picture of Poe. The author died in Baltimore [Maryland] about three weeks after it was taken."